Poly(aryl ether) polymers containing perfluorocyclobutane rings

Abstract

Polybenzazole polymers may contain perfluorocyclobutane rings to provide a flexible moiety which is stable at high temperatures.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A poly(aromatic ether) polymer or copolymer containing perfluorocyclobutane rings in the polymer backbone. 
     
     
       2. A poly(aromatic ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 1 wherein each perfluorocyclobutane ring is linked to the remainder of the polymer by ether or thioether linkages. 
     
     
       3. A poly(aromatic ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 1 which contains a plurality of mer units that comprise: (1) a plurality of first aromatic groups linked by at least one oxygen atom;   (2) a first sulfonyl or carbonyl group bonded to one of the first aromatic groups;   (3) a second aromatic group bonded to the sulfonyl or carbonyl moiety   (4) a first oxygen or sulfur atom bonded to the second aromatic group;   (5) a perfluorocyclobutane ring bonded to the first oxygen or sulfur atom;   (6) a second oxygen or sulfur atom bonded to the perfluorocyclobutane ring;   (7) a third aromatic group bonded to the second oxygen or sulfur atom; and   (8) a second carbonyl or sulfonyl group bonded to the third aromatic group wherein each aromatic group contains no more than about 12 carbon atoms.     
     
     
       4. A poly(aromatic ether) polymer or copolymer wherein the first oxygen or sulfur atom and the second oxygen or sulfur atom in each mer unit are bonded to adjacent carbon atoms on the perfluorocyclobutane ring. 
     
     
       5. The poly(aromatic ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 4 that contains a plurality of mer units which are represented by the Formula: ##STR10## wherein: each Y is independently a carbonyl or sulfonyl moiety; each Ar is independently an aromatic group;   each L is an oxygen atom or a bond chosen such that at least one L in each mer unit is an oxygen atom;   each J is independently an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom; and   each "d" is a number of repeating units which may averages zero to 10.   
     
     
       6. The poly(aromatic ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 5 wherein d averages 0 to 2. 
     
     
       7. The poly(aromatic ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 5 wherein each aromatic group (Ar) is a meta-phenylene moiety or a para-phenylene moiety. 
     
     
       8. The poly(aromatic ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 7 which consists essentially of mer units that contain perfluorocyclobutane moieties. 
     
     
       9. The poly(aromatic ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 7 which further comprises a plurality of mer units that do not contain a perfluorocyclobutane moiety. 
     
     
       10. The poly(aromatic ether polymer of claim 7 wherein each carbonyl or sulfonyl group (Y) is a carbonyl group. 
     
     
       11. The poly(aromatic ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 10 wherein a plurality of the mer units are represented by the Formula: ##STR11## 
     
     
       12. The poly(aromatic ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 11 wherein essentially all of the mer units are represented by the Formula in claim 11. 
     
     
       13. The poly(aromatic ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 1 which has an inherent viscosity of at least about 0.8 dL/g in concentrated sulfuric acid at about 25° C. and a concentration of about 0.2 g/dL and has a glass transition temperature of no more than about 150° C. 
     
     
       14. The poly(aromatic ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 1 which further contains a plurality of amide moieties, imide moieties, quinoline moieties, quinoxaline moieties, or benzazole moieties. 
     
     
       15. The poly(aromatic ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 1 which further contains a plurality of benzazole moieties. 
     
     
       16. The poly(aromatic ether) polymer or copolymer of claim 1 which has an inherent viscosity of at least about 0.6 dL/g in concentrated sulfuric acid at about 25° C. and a concentration of about 0.2 g/dL and has a glass transition temperature of no more than about 170° C.